“I have watched footage of him, he nearly kept Wigan up single-handedly with the goals he was scoring in the relegation fight. When others buckle he won’t.

“He was great and will continue to improve and will get better than that too.”

N’Zogbia like most of Villa’s players did not really get into the game until the second half. Albion dominated the first half as Brown Ideye missed a sitter and Shay Given had to make saves from him and Chris Brunt.

But Villa markedly improved after the break as they pushed higher up the pitch. N’Zogbia led the assault and his run and pass found skipper Delph to lash in.